Margin Debt Diverges With Stocks, VIX Maintains At Higher Plateau

The S&P 500 is within striking distance of a new high, even as margin debt is substantially below last May’s record high.  Concurrently, unlike in the past, VIX refuses to sustainably drop to high single digits/low double digits. Margin debt … Continued

10-Year T-Yield Breaks Crucial Support, TLT Overbought Near Term

posted in: Credit, Derivatives, Economy, Technicals | 0

The 10-year T-yield not only lost a rising trend line from July 2016 but also decade-old support at 2.62 percent.  TLT has been on a tear, but is overbought; digestion of the recent gains is the path of least resistance. … Continued

CoT: Peek Into Future Through Futures, How Hedge Funds Are Positioned

Following futures positions of non-commercials are as of March 19, 2019. 10-year note: Currently net short 164k, down 12.5k. The Fed Wednesday held interest rates steady at 225-250 basis points.  This was expected.  What was not expected was the dovish … Continued

Fed Takes Sharper-Than-Expected Dovish Turn, Stocks Yawn

The Fed Wednesday held interest rates steady.  No surprise there.  But the bank was even more dovish than markets expected.  That was a surprise.  Even more surprising is how stocks reacted. The Fed Wednesday left the fed funds rate unchanged … Continued

Fed Likely To Again Use Balance Sheet As Tool, Stocks May React Differently

The Fed meets this week.  It already shifted its bias from hawkish to dovish, helping stocks.  With the economy softening, in due course the Fed may once again deploy balance sheet as a tool, which will initially help stocks, but … Continued

CoT: Peek Into Future Through Futures, How Hedge Funds Are Positioned

Following futures positions of non-commercials are as of March 12, 2019. 10-year note: Currently net short 176.4k, down 56.9k. Non-commercials continue to cut back net shorts, which late September last year was at a new record.  The 10-year Treasury yield … Continued

Fed Would Like Animal Spirits Unleashed – Would Investors/Businesses Oblige?

posted in: Credit, Economy, Equities, Technicals | 0

The sharp decline in US stocks last October-December forced the Fed to do a 360 as relates to its campaign to tighten monetary policy.  The dovish shift apparently wants to unleash animal spirits.  Investors have obliged – thus far.  Will … Continued

Gold Right Under Major Resistance – Bulls Deserve Benefit Of Doubt Medium- To Long-Term

With higher lows since the December 2015 trough, gold finds itself right underneath major resistance.  A breakout would speak volumes about the global economy and how major central banks would react in response.  Near-term notwithstanding, gold bugs deserve the benefit … Continued

Depending On If Bulls Or Bears Win Out At 2800 On S&P 500 Can Be Telling

posted in: Credit, Economy, Equities, Technicals | 0

After the October-December rout, US stocks rallied big in January and February-to-date.  Several data points such as consumer and investor sentiment followed suit, but their rise has been muted.  For longs, this could mean there is room for more strength, … Continued

Bulls Defend 2600-2630 On S&P 500 Last Week – Market Reaction To FOMC Meeting This Week Likely Tell

posted in: Credit, Economy, Equities, Technicals | 0

Bulls last week defended support at 2600-2630 on the S&P 500, which has rallied massively since bottoming on December 26.  Daily conditions are deeply overbought, pricing in a dovish Fed.  A two-day FOMC meeting begins Tuesday.  A ‘buy the rumor, … Continued